Glitches

Glitches

A dreaded error after installing World Adventures.

Glitches (or bugs) are errors in a game or program that cause unexpected problems or unwanted behavior.

Tip: There's already A LOT of info on glitches, how to fix, how to report them and more on EA's Possible Bugs forum. The Sims Wiki recommend that you check there first.

Causes

thumb|300px|right|A video showing a Sim full of glitches.

Glitches in The Sims series can be caused by any of the following:

• Use of some cheats (notoriously Testingcheatsenabled and moveObjects on).
• Installation of official game updates/patches.
• Use of game modifications.
• Use of downloaded objects.
• Hardware problems: A malfunctioning computer component or a computer that does not meet minimum game requirements.

Severity

Many glitches are so minor that they can be ignored, even if they occur often. Some glitches, while they do not corrupt any game data, may make the game partially or completely unplayable. Examples of these include graphical errors that cause the game to not render or display correctly. The most severe glitches may corrupt saved game data or cause a CTD (Crash To Desktop). Severe glitches also include Save game errors; bugs that can prevent a game from being saved.

Below is a list of how The Sims Wiki classifies glitches for use on this page:

Severity	Examples
	Corrupting saved games, unable to save & CTD's.
	Glitches requiring quitting without saving, unable to progress in opportunity, adventure or career.
	Avoidable features not working, causing game lag, minor annoyances.
	Graphical abnormalities, no impact on gameplay.

Warning: If you want to add a glitch please go to the talk page and see if someone has already reported it. If multiple people are experiencing the same bug it can be added to the lists. Referencing at least one website which reports this glitch is a must.

Glitches

Please note that glitches are sorted by severity first and expansion pack/patch notes second.

The Sims 3

Confirmed Sims 3 glitches.
Severity	Glitch	Game	Patch	Description	References
	Create a World is unable to start and crashes.		12	Unable to use CAW after Ambitions and Patch 12. EA has confirmed the bug. Temporary fix: Uninstall The Sims 3 and re-install The Sims 3 and Create a World, but do NOT install Patch 12. Fix: Download Patch 14 and then a new Create a World patch.
	Unable to open tomb door or loot adventure item.		5	This can happen if you go too far into a tomb or teleport there without having the appropriate adventure. Note: It is unlikely that this will be fixed by official patches. Fix: AwesomeMod fixes similar issues, but if you are already experiencing the bug there is a guide in the references.
	Unable to capture certain motives with the Photography skill.		5	The 'Town Theatre' and the Riverview spa and school were impossible to capture, but EA fixed that in Patch 9. Motives which continue to be uncaptureable are the Dropa Stone relic collection. Fix: Follow the link for a mod which fixes this glitch.
	A corrupt package file infects The Exchange and causes game to slow.		N/A
	Unable to open Consignment store buy menu.		12	The game is supposed to return items to you which haven't been sold within 5 days, but it does not work. Instead the items start counting down into the minusses, preventing you from opening the buy menu. Temporary fix: This can be fixed temporarily by cancelling your consignments. You will need to repeat this step every 5 days.
	Unable to excavate since Ambitions		12	People with Ambitions cannot excavate if the site is on a slope, the terrain has to be completely flat.
	Cemetery ghosts behave differently since Ambitions.		12	Since Ambitions, ghosts appear to rise from their graves and then drive off in cars. This is possibly related to the new Ghost Hunter career.
	Challenges and wishes with numbers reset when going on vacation.		5	Some challenges and wishes which require a number of items or tasks to be done have been known to reset when going on vacation. Mote notably the 'Vizard of Vine' challenge in Nectar Making.
	Cursor hand grabs something and cannot let go.		Release	The player hand would sometimes get stuck holding an object, unable to let go. Temporary fix: Exiting to main menu and reload your saved game seems to clear it. Switching between game modes does not. Note: This may have been fixed in recent patches 11 or 12 .
	'A Great Lecture' moodlet has no icon.		12	The moodlet has no icon and is an empty frame. Fix: Install Patch 14.

Old/Fixed Sims 3 glitches.
Severity	Glitch	Game	Patch	Description	References
	Save game error in World Adventures		5	Save game errors 12, 13 & 16 which prevents games from saving in The Sims 3. This was introduced in World Adventures. Fix: Patch 7 was released to fix this problem and Patch 8 introduced a recovery prompt for already corrupted games.
	'Try for Baby' with the Grim Reaper results in pitch black children		Release	The 'Try for Baby' interaction was available with the Grim Reaper in the base game and produced children with a pitch black skin color. Fix: The interaction was made unavailable in Patch 2.

The Sims 2

Sims 2 glitches.
Severity	Glitch	Game	Description	References
	Class performance bar does not open fully even when Sim has all required skills.		A young adult's class performance may not open fully even if he or she has all the required skills for that semester. What to do: If the Sim is sent to a community lot, the bar will usually open up while he or she is there. The glitch will often resolve itself when the Sim moves onto another lot.

Old/Fixed Sims 2 glitches.
Severity	Glitch	Game	Patch	Description	References
	Sim becomes stuck in The Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer with Seasons installed.		1.7.0.158	With Seasons installed, a Sim may become stuck when using The Eclectic and Enigmatic Energizer. Fix: This was fixed in the subsequent Seasons patch.
	Can not move Dream Date object rewards		1.16.0 [confirmation needed]	Dream Date objects and genie lamp could not be moved since they are placed outside the apartment. Fix: This was fixed in the Apartment Life patch.
	Sims would continously go to the window to check the weather.		1.7.0.158	They would even queue up multiple actions of doing so. A user-created mod was made in order to fix this behaviour. AntiWeatherReaction at More Awesome Than You. Fix: This was fixed in the subsequent Seasons patch.
	Patricia Wan would be connected to the Ottomas family		1.7.0.158	Fix: Download The Sims 2: Seasons/patch

The Sims

Sometimes, if The Sims: Superstar is installed and the player saves the game just as an adult or child is exiting the bathtub, reload the lot and they will have teleported out of the tub with no clothes on, and with no pixellations covering the rude parts!

There is a glitch which can cause the maid to get stuck in the shower while cleaning it.

Shower/tubs from Vacation and Unleashed can get stuck in a dirty state.

This section is in need of additional information. You can help The Sims Wiki by expanding this section.

See also

• Talk:Glitches
• Patch notes
• Crash To Desktop
• Category:Glitches
• Category:Glitchy Sims

External links

• Possible Bugs at TheSims3.com forum. <-- Use this link!
• A list of unofficial bugs and issues with The Sims 3 at TheSims3.com forum.
• External Ambitions links:
  • Ambition bug thead at TheSims3.com forum.
  • Ambitions: What's borked at MATY forum.
  • Issues after installing Ambitions or patching to 1.12 / 2.7 / 3.3? Try these fixes! at ModTheSims forum.